This week new manager, George Burley, held his first pre-match press conference at the Beckenham Training Ground to share his thoughts ahead of Leicester City's visit to Selhurst Park on Saturday.
Below we can bring you some of the highlights of that press conference, plus accompanying footage that is FREE to view...
On being back in club management.....
….It is good, I have missed it. I have missed the day-to-day involvement, everything that is entailed with being a manager - bringing players in, contracts, and trying to improve players.
When you are a national manager you may not see them for six to eight weeks, and you are only with them for two or three days.
You don't have a chance to really coach them or work with them to any extent. I have really enjoyed it. I have been a club manager for a number of years now, I think I started about 19 years ago so it has been really good and enjoyable and it has been good working with another set of lads, work with young players.
I have managed to bring one or two in, some experienced players have committed themselves to longer contracts, which is encouraging. The new consortium has been very supportive.
We are working hard to build the squad up, which will take time and I am really looking forward to the start of the season. The fans have been magnificent. Some of the pre-season games, the Chelsea game was a sell out, even playing the local games they have been very supportive and that has been encouraging for me.
On the challenge of keeping big name players.....
….I think you are always going to get speculation over players. Darren Ambrose committed himself for another three years, Paddy McCarthy another three years, we are in ongoing talks with other players in the squad about extending their contracts, which is a continual thing. When a player goes into his final year they are more difficult to keep, but that is the scenario with every club so we are no different.
On why he chose to return to club management with Crystal Palace.....
…..Crystal Palace has a reputation for bringing kids through, big support, a great potential of a huge fan base. And really coming back down south really appealed to me for my family, my two boys live in London so it was an ideal location. And working with young players, I feel, is one of my strengths and when you look at the youth policy and the players coming through, that had a big appeal to me.
On his realistic expectations this season.....
….Who is to say what is realistic? What we were Blackpool's realistic aims? Anything is possible. I have been in the Championship, I have been in four play offs, I have won promotion, I know what it takes.
It is a tough, competitive league, 46 games. We are not going to set targets, we are going to do our best, and who knows where it might take you.
We are not going to say we will be happy to finish half way or just below half way, we will try our best.
But at the moment it is difficult to gauge because we still have a lot to do. One thing is for sure, young players will get opportunities. We have got some talented players on our books, but it is a case of adding to it from there.
